JEDDAH, 17 August 2007 — Jeddah is becoming a tourist destination for Saudis and for people from other surrounding countries as it forecast to receive 5 million tourists in 10 years.
Saleh Al-Turki said that there is a noticeable increase in the number of Saudi tourists going to local tourist spots instead of traveling abroad.
Local tourism has increased from 20 percent to 35 percent in the past six years as a result of intensified tourist events.
However, amid an expected huge turnout of domestic tourists, there is a need for Jeddah to raise 12,000 rooms annually.
Activities of Jeddah Ghair summer festivals have increased 500 percent since the first year of the annual event. The event this year has 226 activities.
Some three million Saudis spend their summer vacation abroad costing them SR35 billion.